Systems, methods and computer program products configured to provide and perform metadata-based workflow management are disclosed. The inventive subject matter includes a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program instructions embodied therewith. The computer readable program instructions are configured to: initiate a workflow configured to process data; associate the data with metadata; and drive at least a portion of the workflow based on at least some of the metadata. The metadata include anchoring metadata; common metadata; and custom metadata. Inventive subject matter also encompasses a method for managing genomic data processing workflows using metadata includes: initiating a workflow; receiving a request to manage the workflow using metadata comprising: anchoring metadata, common metadata, and custom metadata, associating the metadata with the data; and driving at least a portion of the workflow based on the metadata. The workflow involves genomic analyses.